ULTIMATE LOCKS TEST

We have subjected 24 locks to nine of the toughest tests each, in our biggest locks test ever, to help you find the best way to secure your bike

‘Strong and stable’ didn’t work for Theresa May but for a bike lock, it’s not a bad start. In our biggest and most comprehensive locks test ever, we push 24 models to their limits.

The first thing to realise is that no single lock is unbreakable. Armed with the right tools and knowledge, a person who really wants to steal your bike will, no matter what you lock it up with. What you can do is deter the bike thief looking for an easy steal, or give the more determined a much harder time.

With that in mind, one of the best bits of advice we can give you, after many years of busting and picking locks in our tests, is to use two locks of different types and brands. If a thief is adept at picking a certain type of lock and has the tools to do so, it’s unlikely that they will also have the tools or the knowledge to pick a completely different type. Two budget locks that are wildly different in style and key/lock-cylinder types are sometimes better than just one expensive lock.